Acts 19:15-20: a reflection

15The evil spirit answered, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?” 16The man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17This became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who lived at Ephesus. Fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 18Many also of those who had believed came, confessing and declaring their deeds. 19Many of those who practiced magical arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. They counted their price, and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20So the word of the Lord was growing and becoming mighty.

In Ephesus, some who did not truly know Christ try to use his name as if it were a magic formula. Certain wandering exorcists attempt to cast out an evil spirit by the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches; but the spirit answers, Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you? and overpowers them. They had tried to use the name of Jesus without any real relationship to him, as a borrowed formula, and it did not work. The name of Christ is not a magic word to be used by those who do not know him; there is a difference between truly knowing Christ and using his name as a mere formula, and the difference was exposed.

Notice what the evil spirit's words expose: the difference between knowing Christ and merely using his name. Jesus I know, and Paul I know, the spirit says, but who are you? These men had the name of Jesus on their lips, but no real relationship to him; they used his name as a borrowed formula, without knowing him. And it was empty; the name in the mouths of those who did not know its owner had no power for them. There is a difference between truly knowing Christ, belonging to him, and merely using his name as a formula, a word to invoke without relationship. The name of Christ is not a magic charm for those who do not know him; genuine relationship to Christ is not the same as using his name.

That is worth taking to heart, for there is a difference between truly knowing Christ and using his name as a mere formula. We can use the name and the words of Christ, the outward forms of faith, without a real relationship to him, treating his name almost as a formula, a charm; but the name of Christ is not a magic word for those who do not truly know him, as the sons of Sceva learned. What matters is truly knowing Christ, belonging to him, not merely invoking his name. Do not treat the name of Christ as a mere formula to use without truly knowing him; seek a real relationship to Christ, not just his name on your lips. Seek to truly know Christ and belong to him, not merely to use his name as a formula, as the wandering exorcists invoked the name of Jesus without knowing him and were overpowered; for the name of Christ is not a magic word for those who do not know him, and what matters is genuine relationship to Christ rather than borrowed formulas.

Lord, in Ephesus, some who did not truly know Christ try to use his name as if it were a magic formula. Certain wandering exorcists attempt to cast out an evil spirit by the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches; but the spirit answers, Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you? and overpowers them. They had tried to use the name of Jesus without any real relationship to him, as a borrowed formula, and it did not work. The name of Christ is not a magic word to be used by those who do not know him. Show me what the evil spirit's words expose: the difference between knowing Christ and merely using his name. Jesus I know, and Paul I know, the spirit says, but who are you? These men had the name of Jesus on their lips, but no real relationship to him; they used his name as a borrowed formula, without knowing him. And it was empty. There is a difference between truly knowing Christ, belonging to him, and merely using his name as a formula. The name of Christ is not a magic charm for those who do not know him. Take that to my heart, for there is a difference between truly knowing Christ and using his name as a mere formula. I can use the name and the words of Christ, the outward forms of faith, without a real relationship to him; but the name of Christ is not a magic word for those who do not truly know him, as the sons of Sceva learned. What matters is truly knowing Christ. Keep me from treating the name of Christ as a mere formula to use without truly knowing him; help me seek a real relationship to Christ, Lord, not just his name on my lips, that I may genuinely know him and belong to him.